(NOTE: Do not count off for font or for use of italics rather than underlining. All formatting has been checked and approved. As we have International entrants, please do not count off for International spelling—color[American] colour [International])

Comment:

CHARACTERS: subtotal ______ (min 4: max 40)

_____ The actions and reactions seem appropriate and believably motivated.

_____ She/he is interesting, multidimensional and believable.

_____ You can easily recognize who the heroine/hero of the story will be.

_____ There is believable attraction/chemistry/interaction between her/him and the hero/heroine, either in the manuscript sample or in the synopsis.

_____ The action flows with a smooth, natural feel and a sense of immediacy.

_____ The backstory/background/set-up information is woven in without slowing the story unduly.

_____ The pacing fits the story/genre.

Comment:

DIALOGUE subtotal_______(min 2: max 20)

_____ The dialogue sounds natural and realistic for the time period and setting.

_____ Each character has an individual voice that reveals his/her character traits.

Comment:

STORY TELLING: subtotal ______ (min 3 : max30)

_____ The writing is smooth, fresh and interesting, rather than sounding forced or clichéd.

_____ The author skillfully plants the seeds that drive the story forward.

_____ The story convinces you to suspend disbelief so that you believe the story happenings are credible for the setting.

Comment:

SYNOPSIS: subtotal______ (min 3: max 30)

(PLEASE ANSWER THE QUESTIONS BELOW BASED ON THE SYNOPSIS RATHER THAN THE MANUSCRIPT)

_____ The main plot/storyline are easy to follow.

_____ The romance and the main external plots are well integrated.

_____ The character growth/arcs are clearly depicted for both hero and heroine.

Comment:

OVERALL APPEAL: subtotal ______ (min 1: max 10)

_____ This entry grabbed your interest enough to make you want to read more.

Comment:

What area/element of this story do you feel needs additional work?

What area/element of this story did you particularly like?

Judge Information:

__Published Author/ RWA® PAN __Librarian/Bookseller

__RWA® PRO

__Other ______________________________________________

Contest Staff Only

Verify score total ___________ENTER TOTAL HERE

I have personally re-added and checked the score total _______INITIAL HERE

Who We Are

We are the North Louisiana chapter of Romance Writers of America® and are based in Bossier City, LA.
Most of our members come from across northern Louisiana, southern Arkansas and east Texas.

How To Join Us

Applicants must be members of Romance Writers of America (RWA) to qualify for membership. To find out more about RWA, Visit their site
To learn more about the requirements and benefits of joining NOLA STARs, click here

Guest Policy
Guests must be over 18 years of age and may attend two meetings before being required to join the national organization, Romance Writers of America, and the local chapter, NOLA STARS. This guest policy is in accordance with national organization standards and NOLA STARS guidelines.

Our Mission Statement

NORTH LOUISIANA STORYTELLERS AND AUTHORS OF ROMANCE (NOLA STARS) strives to:
* promote excellence in romantic fiction
* provide continuing support for writers within the romance publishing industry
* promote and advocate both an author-friendly environment and respect for the romance genre within our community through member professionalism and local outreach activities